Eleven of the Greyhounds' 13 players attempted three-pointers, including senior Austin Hedgpeth. (Chris Allen/Democrat-News) [Click to enlarge]

SWEET SPRINGS -- At a speed which could compete at LA Raceway on Friday night, Sweet Springs lapped the LaMonte boys' basketball team a couple of times Thursday.

Head coach Tim Smith's Greyhounds aren't the first to run and gun, but their engines had too much horsepower for the undermanned Vikings -- with only six players in uniform, one unavailable in the first half -- to keep pace during a 94-39 non-conference rout.

The best description for the Grinnell System adopted by Sweet Springs may be "gunning without guilt." This requires a degree of unselfishness, which the 'Hounds evidenced in dishing out 13 assists from eight directions and also having eight of its 13 players fire 25 shots from long range -- in the 60-point first half alone.

The game was essentially decided by the break, with Sweet Springs holding a 45-point lead. LaMonte had committed 25 turnovers -- hardly any of them unforced, the 'Hounds coming up with 15 steals -- and attempted only 16 field goals.

The Vikings didn't want to play at that pace, but Sweet Springs' full-court press proved to be an irresistible force. The 'Hounds dropped the press in the second half, all but the final margin decided.

Eight of LaMonte's first 10 possessions ended without a shot, sophomore Billy Martin -- showing shades of Tommy Summers -- knocking down two of his six first-half three-pointers and sophomore Zach Thomas striking on back-to-back bombs during a serendipitous 27-1 run to begin the game.

What they missed, it seemed junior Craig Sims and 6-foot-4 sophomore Nick Peeples cleaned up. They combined for 10 offensive rebounds and 12 second-chance points in the first half. Peeples finished the game with 12 points and 12 rebounds, putting back four of seven offensive boards.

Behind nine points from junior Caleb Venters, the Vikings stabilized matters briefly during the middle of the second period, until Sweet Springs reeled off 11 straight points to make it 55-11. Thomas, Martin and sophomore Tyler Dohrman hit treys during the stretch.

The 'Hounds took off the press during the second half, which allowed LaMonte (2-3) to get the ball across the center line and set up a semblance of an offense. Venters scored 16 of his team-high 25 points after the break, but the Vikings still lost ground.

Sweet Springs scored the first 10 points of the third period. Senior James DeWeese hit two free throws, Thomas converted a conventional three-point play, Martin connected from outside and fed Dohrman for a lay-up.

Martin sat the rest of the game after making a bucket and freebie with 5:55 remaining in the quarter for his 27th point. Sophomore Anthon Smith closed the frame with a triple, which is how sophomore Aaron Schlatweiler began the fourth stanza -- which was played under the turbo-clock.

Thomas wound up with 15 points and DeWeese had 10 for the 'Hounds (2-3) -- who accumulated 21 assists and 20 steals, and had advantages of 75-44 in field-goal attempts and 49-31 on the boards.

While it was in many ways an impressive performance, Sweet Springs will face a more difficult assignment today in the State Fair Community College/W-K Chevrolet Holiday Shoot-out at Sedalia against a Pilot Grove club which is both deep and capable.